Christopher Nolan's Tenet tallies USD 20.2 mn, undergoes litmus test in the US

The release of Christopher Nolan's Tenet at the theatres is highly debated given the health risks associated with indoor gatherings. The film brought in an estimated $20.2 million through the holiday weekend in U.S. and Canadian theatres.

Washington: Christopher Nolan's Tenet faces a litmus test as moviegoing amid the pandemic seems a bit risky in America.

The result of the moviegoing in America could be greeted as either the rejuvenation of U.S. cinemas or a reflection of drastically lowered standards for Hollywood's top blockbusters given the circumstances.

Warner Bros. declined to split up U.S. and Canadian box-office receipts. Theatres in Canada, where COVID-19 cases are much lower than in the U.S., began showing Tenet a week earlier. The film opened stronger in China. It debuted there with $30 million in ticket sales from Friday to Monday. Overall internationally, Tenet has exceeded expectations. In two weeks of release, its overseas total is $126 million, with a global tally thus far of $146.2 million.

Warner Bros. has emphasized that the usual opening weekend calculus is out the window. Few onlookers felt it was possible to gauge how Tenet would open. The film, which cost $200 million to make and at least $100 million to market, will need to get close to $500 million to break even.

In the film's favour, it currently has big screens almost entirely to itself. Some multiplexes played Tenet as much as 100 times over the weekend. And with little on the horizon, Warner Bros. is counting on a long run for Tenet.

The release of Tenet was also hotly debated, given the health risks associated with indoor gatherings. Several prominent film critics said they wouldn't review Tenet over ethical concerns.

Theatre chains, meanwhile, are struggling to remain solvent. Exhibitors have argued that they need new films to survive.